A destitute man and his son search for the man’s stolen bicycle. No need to insert a complicated plot because the petty drama of everyday life (read: poverty) is heartbreaking enough. The editing and cinematography provide a seamless day-in-the-life quality, while the actors (none of whom were professionals) give disarmingly sincere performances. Italian neo-realism at its finest. Worth watching.

Tilda Swinton learns to love, Italian style! Do you think that characters who value love over duty are interesting? Do you like non-traditional narratives? If you answered yes to both of these questions, this movie is worth watching. If you answered no, this movie is barely watchable.

8 1/2. I’ve seen this movie at least 20 times if not more. Watching it is such a source of inspiration and joy for me. Truly a perfect movie. It’s also the first film on my list to receive a rating of Mandatory Viewing.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/8½